In the early morning of May 23, Beijing time, the second Grand Slam-PGA Championship of 2021 ended the third round of competition. Continuing yesterday's excellent form, Phil Mickelson, 50, of the United States, delivered a round of -2 strokes, locking in the total at -7 (70-69-70) to lead the PGA Championship alone. Fellow player Brooks Koepka followed with a 1-stroke difference.
(Image source: Callaway Golf)
Compared to the previous round of high winds, today's Kiwa Island Ocean Stadium is much "gentler". After 54 holes, there are still 12 golfers who are below par.
In the third round, former champion Phil Mickelson and South Africa's Louis Ursuren simultaneously took a one-shot lead from the top nine. On the first nine holes, Mickelson made no mistakes and won four birdies. After the transfer, the veteran swallowed bogeys and double bogeys on the 12th and 13th holes in succession, but the birdie on the 10th hole and the smooth play on the last 5 holes did not let him lose the lead, and finally Mickelson Paula ended. Tomorrow, 50-year-old veteran Mickelson will sprint to his 6th Grand Slam title with a one-shot advantage.
(Image source: PGA TOUR)
Brooks Koepka also shot 70 today and is currently in second place with a total score of -6 (69-71-70), just one stroke. Before the 18th hole, Koepka had been tied with fellow Mickelson, but koepka accidentally swallowed a bogey on the last hole, ending his day with a result of 5 birds and 3 bogeys.
South Africa's Louis Ursureen, who tied with Mickelson yesterday, started badly today, swallowing a bogey just out of the house and finally playing a 3-bird 3 bogey to finish third with a three-round -5 (71-68-72) overall result. Although today's state seems to be not good, Uchyoren, like Mickelson and Koepka, is definitely the best candidate for the final round.
Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, who just won the green jacket last month and tied for fourth in the second round, delivered his lowest three-day 76 on the move day, especially the back nine bogeys and double bogeys that caused the 29-year-old to collapse a bit, and finally slipped to T23 after 54 holes.
Brandon Grace and Christian Bozeidenhouthout, who tied for fourth with Hideki Matsuyama in the last round, played steadily, delivering a par-par result on the move day, and the two are currently tied for fifth with an overall score of -3. American Kevin Strieman shot a 4-bird-2 bogey in this round, delivering 70 in a single round and currently finishing fourth with a three-round -4 (70-72-70) overall result.
Other players in the spotlight: "Hulk" Bysenson DeChambeau today, currently finishing -2 overall, ranking T7; Jordan Spieth, who is striving to reach a professional grand slam, has a minimum of 68 in this round and is currently T13 with a total score of par; and two-time PGA Champion Rory McIlroy has shot 74 today, with a total of +5 and T51.
Tomorrow, the PGA Championship will host an exciting final round. Who will stand out in the crowded leading list? We'll see!
Wonderful review